System and method for creation of a private business workspace on a social network

Abstract

One aspect includes a method for use in operating a social network. The method comprises the steps of: providing the social network comprising a public section and a private section; providing access to the public section to all users of the social network; and providing access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least a specific project or entity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in operating a social network, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the social network comprising a public section and a private section;   providing access to the public section to all users of the social network;   providing access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least a specific project or entity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing access to the private section comprises:
 providing information about the entity only to one or more users associated with the entity; and   providing information about at least a given one of one or more projects only to one or more users associated with at least the given one of the one or more projects.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the public section comprises a first news feed; and   the information about the entity comprises a second news feed;   wherein the first news feed is at least one of curated by and written by an operator of the social network; and   wherein the second news feed is at least one of curated by or written by the entity.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising personalizing the first news feed for a specific user at least in part by using a filter to apply one or more preferences selected by the specific user to the first news feed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one of the one or more users associated with at least the given one of the one or more projects providing information about at least the given one of the one or more projects for potential publication in the second news feed; and   personalizing the second news feed for a specific user at least in part by publishing the information about at least a given one of one or more projects in the second news feed only if the specific user is associated with at least the given one of the one or more projects.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more users associated with a specific project or entity are determined at least in part by an administrator of the entity. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access to the private section provided to at least a given one of the one or more users associated with a specific project or entity is determined at least in part by an administrator of the entity. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more users associated with a specific entity comprise one or more employees of at least one of a company and a business enterprise. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more users associated with a specific entity comprise one or more members of at least one of: an affinity group, a team, a league, an organization, and a community. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one of the one or more users associated with a specific project designating one or more other users as being associated with the specific project; and   providing access to the private section to the one or more other users designated as being associated with the specific project.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein access to the private section is provided to the one or more other users designated as being associated with the specific project only after approval by an administrator of the entity. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the access to the private section provided to at least a given one of the one or more users designated as being associated with a specific project or entity is determined at least in part by an administrator of the entity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing an administrator of the entity to transfer the specific project from the private section to the public section, thereby providing access to the specific project to all users of the social network rather than only the one or more users associated with the specific project. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing at least one of the one or more users associated with the specific project to edit the specific project in a workspace of the at least one user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least a specific project comprises providing access to each of a plurality of projects within the private section only to one or more users associated with the respective project. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least a specific project further comprises providing access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least one of the plurality of projects within the private section. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least a specific project further comprises providing access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least one of:
 the entity; and   at least one of the plurality of projects within the private section.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least a specific project or entity comprises:
 providing access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least an entity; and   providing access to each of a plurality of projects within the private section only to one or more users associated with the respective project.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory storage medium having software embodied therewith for use in operating a social network, said software comprising:
 software configured:
 to provide the social network comprising a public section and a private section; 
 to provide access to the public section to all users of the social network; and 
 to provide access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least a specific project or entity. 
   
     
     
         20 . A system for use in operating a social network, said system comprising:
 a non-transitory storage medium having software embodied therewith; and   at least one computer coupled to the non-transitory storage medium;   wherein the at least one computer is operative:
 to provide the social network comprising a public section and a private section; 
 to provide access to the public section to all users of the social network; and 
 to provide access to the private section only to one or more users associated with at least a specific project or entity.